Latest news with #DerryGirl
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mayor subjected to online 'campaign of disinformation'
The leader of the SDLP has condemned a "deliberate campaign of disinformation and smearing" directed towards the mayor of Derry City and Strabane. Speaking on Wednesday, Claire Hanna said online abuse of Lilian Seenoi Barr in recent weeks had both "implied and very direct racist undertones". Hanna said the abuse comes after a man was jailed last month for posting abusive messages online toward Seenoi Barr. Seenoi Barr, who was born in Kenya and became the first black mayor in Northern Ireland last year, said the past week has been "deeply distressing". She said she has reported the abuse to police and reassessed her security. In a statement, police said they received a report on 24 February in relation to online posts and commentary. "Enquiries are ongoing, and will continue to be reviewed to identify any potential offences," the police said. Derry City and Strabane area commander Ch Supt Gillian Kearney said the police will "continue to work with and support the mayor to ensure she feels safe in her workplace". "To that end, we are working with Derry City and Strabane District Council to provide reassurance," the senior officer added. Lilian Seenoi Barr and Claire Hanna, flanked by party colleagues, addressed a press conference in Derry's Guildhall on Wednesday. "The past week has been deeply distressing seeing lies, disinformation and malicious attacks spread about me, simply because of my firm and reasoned commitment to fighting racism and injustice in our society," Seenoi Barr said. "I want to be very clear, I will not be deterred by name-calling, the smearing of my character and certainly not by online attacks by those who offer nothing constructive to society." The mayor said she has also been humbled by the support that she has received in the wake of "malicious smearing and lies". She said the attacks are "rooted in prejudice" and believes she has been targeted because of her ethnicity and background. "I am a Maasai woman and a Derry Girl," she said. Seenoi Barr said she is proud to call Derry her home and that the abuse she has received will not deter her from her carrying out her duties as mayor. "Whether people like it or not I have earned my position as mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council," she said. Seenoi Barr said such online attacks can deter people from ethnic minority backgrounds aspiring to hold public office "if serious action is not taken". "This is a city I am proud to represent and proud to call my home - it will not stand for division or racism." In a statement, Ch Supt Kearney said any abuse, harassment or criminality directed at our elected representatives "is totally unacceptable and will be thoroughly investigated". "We will continue to do all we can to ensure that our elected representatives are supported, and they can undertake their role free from abuse, harassment and intimidation," she added.
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Lilian Seenoi Barr: Mayor subject to 'campaign of disinformation'
The leader of the SDLP has condemned a "deliberate campaign of disinformation and smearing" directed towards the mayor of Derry City and on Wednesday, Claire Hanna said online abuse of Lilian Seenoi Barr in recent weeks had both "implied and very direct racist undertones".Hanna said the abuse comes after a man was jailed last month for posting abusive messages online toward Seenoi Barr, who was born in Kenya and became the first black mayor in Northern Ireland last year, said the past week has been "deeply distressing". She said she has reported the abuse to police and reassessed her security. In a statement, police said they received a report on 24 February in relation to online posts and commentary. "Enquiries are ongoing, and will continue to be reviewed to identify any potential offences," the police City and Strabane area commander Ch Supt Gillian Kearney said the police will "continue to work with and support the mayor to ensure she feels safe in her workplace". "To that end, we are working with Derry City and Strabane District Council to provide reassurance," the senior officer added. 'Deeply distressing' Lilian Seenoi Barr and Claire Hanna, flanked by party colleagues, addressed a press conference in Derry's Guildhall on Wednesday. "The past week has been deeply distressing seeing lies, disinformation and malicious attacks spread about me, simply because of my firm and reasoned commitment to fighting racism and injustice in our society," Seenoi Barr said. "I want to be very clear, I will not be deterred by name-calling, the smearing of my character and certainly not by online attacks by those who offer nothing constructive to society."The mayor said she has also been humbled by the support that she has received in the wake of "malicious smearing and lies". She said the attacks are "rooted in prejudice" and believes she has been targeted because of her ethnicity and background. "I am a Maasai woman and a Derry Girl," she said. Seenoi Barr said she is proud to call Derry her home and that the abuse she has received will not deter her from her carrying out her duties as mayor. "Whether people like it or not I have earned my position as mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council," she said. Seenoi Barr said such online attacks can deter people from ethnic minority backgrounds aspiring to hold public office "if serious action is not taken"."This is a city I am proud to represent and proud to call my home - it will not stand for division or racism." In a statement, Ch Supt Kearney said any abuse, harassment or criminality directed at our elected representatives "is totally unacceptable and will be thoroughly investigated"."We will continue to do all we can to ensure that our elected representatives are supported, and they can undertake their role free from abuse, harassment and intimidation," she added.
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
What Makes A Derry Girl? launches on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle
Lisa McGee, writer of the multi award-winning TV series Derry Girls, once wrote that 'being a Derry Girl is a state of mind'. But what is it about this small city that has produced so much outstanding female talent? In the new four-part BBC Sounds series What Makes A Derry Girl?, presenter Anna Curran talks to four famous 'Derry girls' to hear about their connection to the city. The women of Londonderry once ensured the economic survival of the city through working in the shirt factories, with the city's the skyline dominated by the rooftops of 44 shirt manufacturers. And as wives and mothers, the women raised children during the dark days of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Through it all, there was empathy, humour and creativity which are now woven into the fabric of the city. In What Makes A Derry Girl?, Anna Curran, who is also from the city, chats individually to Eurovision winner Dana, actress and film producer Roma Downey, and actresses Amanda Burton and Jamie Lee O'Donnell, to discover what still ties them to their homeplace and makes them proud 'Derry girls'. Anna Curran says: 'As a proud Derry girl I am thrilled to be fronting this series. I grew up watching Roma, Amanda and Dana on the TV and like audiences the world over I am a huge fan of Jamie Lee and the Derry Girls series. It has been a privilege to listen to their stories of success, struggle and everything that makes a Derry girl.' The four-part series will be available to listen to on BBC Sounds from Monday 10 February. It will also be broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster from 3-4pm from Monday 10 February- Thursday 13 February. And will be broadcast on BBC Radio Foyle across four consecutive Fridays from February 14 – Friday March 7 from 12-1pm. pressofficebbcni@
